Written by Yvonne Misando
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, many young girls are forced to become wives long before they are grown up. This is called child marriage, and it happens when a girl is married before she turns 18 years old. Even though there are laws to stop this, many families still follow old traditions or feel they must marry off their daughters because they are very poor and need money to survive.
When a girl is married as a child, she usually has to stop going to school, which means she misses out on learning and playing with her friends. According to UNICEF, girls who marry young are also more likely to get sick because their bodies are not ready to have babies yet (UNICEF, 2023).
To stop child marriage, we must first make sure every girl stays in school. When a girl is educated, she learns about her rights and gains the skills to get a job later in life, which helps her family stay out of poverty without needing a marriage. It is also important for world leaders and local chiefs to talk to parents about why girls should be allowed to grow up first.
Organizations like Save the Children suggest that teaching communities about the dangers of early marriage can change how people think. We also need to listen to children themselves. When kids have a voice and can say “no” to marriage, they protect their own futures. Teachers, parents, and children should work together so that we can all make sure every girl in the Democratic Republic of Congo has the chance to finish school and follow her dreams before ever thinking about a wedding.